4 bank charging?

[Furyous]

So I just completed a large shopping spree on EBay for a bunch of parts needed for the Cougar Scooter. I got a great deal on a new open box NOCO Genius 48 v onboard charger. When I got it I realized there may be a problem- this charger is designed to charge 4 separate banks of batteries of 12 v each, so how can I wire this up if all the batteries are run in a series for a total of 48v? Obviously, if they are all connected together I cannot charge each 12 v bank separately without having some means of isolating each bank during charging. How do I do this?


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[JohnnieB]

Sounds like you've got a Noco Genius Gen-4. If so, it has built in isolation between banks, so you can charge in parallel and use in series without having to disconnect/reconnect the interconnecting cables on the battery pack.

If you are running 8x6V, just connect the first bank across the first two 6V batteries connected in series, second bank across the next two, third bank across the next 6v pair, etc.

If you are running 6x8V, you are screwed. You'll have to get a true 48V charger.

[Furyous]

Yes! That's the charger. Got it for $238 shipped, new open box.

So you're saying that although the batteries are wired in a series, the charger can somehow deliver the proper charge to each 12v pair of batteries?

It's a good thing I haven't bought the batteries yet and still haven't welded the frame together for 6x8v. Changes my plan a little and will cost a bit more, but I'll sure enjoy the better punch and run time.

[JohnnieB]

Originally Posted by Furious

........So you're saying that although the batteries are wired in a series, the charger can somehow deliver the proper charge to each 12v pair of batteries?.........

Yes, that's what I'm saying. Parallel charging with simultaneous Series usage is done with huge industrial battery banks all the time.

I'm not sure how equally the Noco Gen-4 will charge the four banks, but if their design engineers did their job right, it should be pretty close.

If you decide to stick with 6x8V, I'd go with something like this: http://www.cartsunlimited.net/48v_Battery_Charger.html
I've got the 36V one and whoever designed it must have been reading my mind.